When non-English speaking minority children are placed in an English-only classroom, subtractive bilingualism can occur, which means
A)they gain proficiency in their native language.
B)they are at risk for being less than fully competent in both languages.
C)they ignore one language or the other.
D)learning a third language is made easier.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Subtractive bilingualism refers to the process where learning a second language (in this case, English) interferes with the maintenance and development of the first language. This can lead to children being less than fully competent in both their native language and the new language.

When Non-English Speaking Minority Children Are Placed in an English-Only